SWAT standoff sparked by man with ‘extremely realistic’ BB gun

Police say a lengthy standoff in Gaston County dragged out Wednesday afternoon because responding officers weren’t sure what a man would do with an “extremely realistic looking” BB gun.

The incident began around 4:00 p.m. on Jeran Lane in Gastonia. Gaston County police were called about a man who was driving drunk and dragging a person with his car. The man also displayed a gun to witnesses.

Responding officers saw a man break out the back window of a car and later raise a pistol and point it toward a wooded area. Later, the man moved between homes to where officers couldn’t see him.

The Gaston County Police Department’s Emergency Response Team was activated and conducted a search that ultimately located the man hiding in the damaged car.